Triton Boats Named Official Sponsor of B.A.S.S.

Posted: 3/14/2002

Triton Boats, America’s largest-selling brand of fiberglass fishing boats, has been named an official sponsor of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, the nation’s first, largest and most prestigious bass tournament/conservation organization. Triton will debut as an official B.A.S.S. sponsor at the “ World Series of bass fishing,” the B.A.S.S. Masters Classic tournament, to be held this August in New Orleans.

The news of Triton’s sponsorship of B.A.S.S. came soon after the announcement of B.A.S.S. being purchased by ESPN, a pioneer in sports broadcasting. “Being named an official boat of B.A.S.S. and the B.A.S.S. Masters Classic is a dream come true,” said Earl Bentz, founder and president of Triton Boats and a lifelong bass angler. “B.A.S.S. originated competitive bass fishing over 30 years ago, and has led the fight against water pollution and bass habitat destruction. With over 600,000 members worldwide, the Society is a guiding force shaping the sport of bass fishing today.”

“The Bass Angler Sportsman Society’s new partnership with ESPN, the world’s foremost sports broadcasting organization, ushers in an exciting new era for the sport of bass fishing,” Bentz said. “Under B.A.S.S.’ leadership, bass fishing has skyrocketed in popularity, and now with ESPN’s involvement, we’re predicting even more dynamic growth for the sport in the future. We’re especially proud to join B.A.S.S. in an official sponsorship capacity at this historic point in time.”

Headquartered just a short cast across the Cumberland River from Nashville, Triton sports a state-of-the-art, 260,000-square foot manufacturing complex which is regarded throughout the industry as the premier fiberglass fishing boat plant in the world. Inside, skilled technicians use space-age materials and old-fashioned Tennessee craftsmanship to create what experienced anglers regard as the finest fiberglass fishing boats made. “Nobody in the boat business understands the nuances of bass boat performance and the bass boat market, like Earl Bentz,” said B.A.S.S. founder and Triton owner Ray Scott. “He’s put a lifetime of bass boating know-how into the development of every Triton model. Most brands of bass boats look great, but serious anglers know it’s what inside a boat that really counts,” said Ray Scott, who has fished from virtually thousands of bass rigs since B.A.S.S. was born. “Triton was the first bass boat manufacturer to popularize composite construction, wherein super-strong polyurethane material replaces the wood commonly used throughout the industry.”

“The B.A.S.S. Tournament Trail is the ultimate bass boat proving ground, and on this grueling venue, Triton boats consistently surpass the highest expectations of the world’s greatest professional anglers,” Scott added. Triton’s dominating presence on the pro bass circuit is symbolized by the company’s new Tournament Support Trailer, a NASCAR-style semitrailer that accompanies its pro anglers to major tournaments nationwide, doubling as a rolling sales outlet for Triton apparel and merchandise.

Triton presently manufactures 36 different freshwater and 29 saltwater boats at its Ashland City plant, including the industry’s most comprehensive array of fiberglass bass boats from 17-to 22-feet. In addition, the company recently began production of a complete line of all-welded aluminum fishing, duck hunting and utility boats at its 92,000-square foot plant in Aberdeen, Miss. Triton presently boasts a network of over 200 dealers across North America. “Our personnel and our dealers are all extremely excited about Triton’s official sponsorship of B.A.S.S. and the B.A.S.S Masters Classic,” Bentz said. “We’re all looking forward to playing a role in helping B.A.S.S. and ESPN shape the future of the sport of bass fishing.”